The state government has urged the Bombay high court to constitute 25 fast-track courts to hear cases of crime against women across Maharashtra.

The state government has urged the Bombay high court to constitute 25 fast-track courts to hear cases of crime against women across Maharashtra.

In a letter sent on April 2, the law and judiciary department requested the high court administration, as there is has been a demand for speedy disposal of such cases after the Delhi gang-rape.

The letter sent by SS Shinde, joint-secretary, law and judiciary, stated that the home department had, in a communication of March 22 sought fast-track courts to be constituted at various districts in the state.

The government has asked for three fast-track courts in Thane, Pune and Nagpur each to hear cases of crime against women. It has asked for two in Nashik and one each in 14 districts including Mumbai, Aurangabad, Jalgaon and Bhandara.

According to the letter, in a Government Resolution of March 2011, it was decided to constitute fast-track courts for five years and the state government had also stated that districts that have a higher number of cases of atrocities against women pending, must commit these cases to fast-track courts for speedy disposal.

A special women's court, presided by a woman judge with all women staff was set up in Mumbai's city civil and sessions court on International Women's Day on March 8.